Louver roller

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a louver roller ( 100 ) with louver members and mounting in an air nozzle body. In order firstly to ensure rapid installation of the louver members in the louver roller ( 100 ) and secondly to provide a secure fastening of the same, the invention proposes that snap-in segments ( 12 ) are arranged between end sides ( 10, 11 ) of the louver roller ( 100 ) and each have, on the louver-member side, a recess ( 14 ) into which the louver members can be snapped in a frictional and/or form-fitting manner.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a louver roller with louver members and for mounting in an air nozzle body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A louver roller of the type with louver members and for mounting in an air nozzle body is known and familiar to a person skilled in the art.

For example, a louver roller which is provided with obliquely situated louver members and which is mounted in a nozzle body is known, with the pivot axis of the louver members extending essentially parallel to the pivot axes, which are essentially parallel to one another, of the louver members of a louver array. The louver array in turn is part of an air nozzle and serves to deflect the direction of the airflow emerging from the air nozzle which is mounted on the nozzle body, with the air nozzle also having louver members which are mounted pivotably with respect to one another and extend essentially parallel to one another.

Air nozzles which combine the advantages of a louver roller with those of an air nozzle with louver arrays arranged thereon are therefore available in the prior art. Said louver roller known from the prior art is simple to manufacture and, as a compact part, can easily be fitted. Nevertheless, if oriented appropriately, it permits a comparatively large, free flow cross section and good deflection of air in a plane transversely with respect to its pivot axis. The louver array mentioned here is known per se from U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,787.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

If a louver array is combined with a louver roller, comparatively few louver members have to be fitted, but these then extend over the entire width. The adjusting wheels both for the louver array and for the louver roller can be fitted at the end sides Such that not too much free flow cross section is lost, and installation is possible even in the case of very narrow nozzles and correspondingly restricted spatial conditions. In summary, it is therefore to be stated that the combination of louver array and louver roller in an air nozzle constitutes an innovative development of air nozzles. Furthermore, it is also required for the louver receptacle in the louver roller to firstly permit rapid installation, but secondly to also prevent the louver members in the louver array from easily becoming detached from the hinged receptacle, for example due to significant vibrations in the vehicle interior.

Taking a louver roller of the type mentioned at the beginning as the starting point, the invention is therefore based on the object of developing a louver roller of the type mentioned at the beginning in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 in such a manner that firstly rapid installation of the louver members in the louver roller is ensured and secondly secure fastening of the same is provided.

This object is achieved according to the invention by claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

According to the invention, snap-in segments are arranged between the end sides of the louver roller and each have, on the louver-member side, a recess into which the louver members can be snapped in a frictional and/or form-fitting manner.

For the frictional and/or form-fitting connection between the snap-in segment and the louver members, bearing journals can be provided, said bearing journals protruding away from the louver members in opposite directions and snapping into the recesses.

One advantage of the invention can be considered that of providing simple lateral installation of the bearing journals of the louver members. In addition, it is ensured according to the invention that the louver members are mounted in an unopened state such that they cannot be squeezed out.

Within the scope of the invention, it is also provided for this purpose that the snap-in segment has an arm part and the arm part is provided with a bulge within the recess. In addition, according to the invention, a curvature is formed within the recess, with the recess being of curved design between the bulge and curvature. These structural measures assist the frictional and/or form-fitting connection between the snap-in segment and louver members or bearing journals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a louver roller according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows, in a perspective view, an enlarged cutout of the louver roller according to the invention, in which the snap-in segment is arranged diametrically to the remaining snap-in segments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a louver roller according to the invention provided with the reference number 100.

The louver roller 100 is part of an air nozzle and has two end sides 10, 11 and two side parts 19, 20. In addition, the louver roller 100 has snap-in segments 12 for the mounting of louver members (not shown). The snap-in segments 12 shown in FIG. 1 have corresponding snap-in segments which are not shown in FIG. 1 and are arranged along the side surface 19. The snap-in segments 12 protrude from an edge 23 which is formed along the side parts 19, 20. The louver members (not shown here) and the snap-in segments 12 are designed as soft plastic molded parts, and may be identical. The snap-in segments 12 each have a recess 14 into which the louver members provided for the louver roller 100 can be snapped in a frictional and/or form-fitting manner. For this purpose, the louver members can have bearing journals which protrude in opposite directions from the louver members and snap into the recesses 14.

The snap-in segments 12 are structurally configured in such a manner that they have an arm part 15 which is of elastic design. A spring arm could therefore also be spoken of in the terminology used here. The arm part 15 is provided with a bulge 16 within the recess 14. In addition, a curvature 17 is formed within the recess 14. Said curvature is formed integrally in the edge 23 and is located obliquely in relation to the bulge 15 within the recess 14. The recess 14 is of curved design between the bulge 16 and the curvature 17. In the embodiment shown here, the arms of the arm part 15 (“spring arm”), with the exception of the arm part 16 of the snap-in segment 13, extend in the direction of the end side 11 which is provided with an adjusting wheel 18 for pivoting the louver roller 100.

Projections 21 which likewise protrude from the edge 23 are arranged between the snap-in segments 12. In this case, that side 23 of the projection 21 which faces the recess 14 is of oblique design. By means of this structural measure, a louver member which is introduced from above can be guided by a journal along the side 23 in order to be guided in the direction of the recess 14 and to be snapped into the latter. Easy installation of the louver members is thereby obtained. Both the bulge 16 and the curvature 17 serve to better lock the louver members in the snap-in segments 12.

It is revealed in FIG. 2 that the snap-in segment 13 situated closest to the end side 11 is arranged diametrically to the remaining snap-in segments 12, i.e. through 180Ú to the remaining snap-in segments 12. In the embodiment shown here, this arrangement is necessitated by the structure. A projection 21 is likewise arranged between the snap-in segment 13 and the snap-in segment 12 situated closest thereto, but, in the embodiment of the louver roller 100 according to the invention that is shown in FIG. 2, that side of the projection 21 which faces the recess 14 of the snap-in segment 13 is not of oblique design.

The present invention is not restricted in its implementation to the preferred exemplary embodiments indicated above. On the contrary, a number of variants is conceivable, the variants making use of the illustrated solution even for fundamentally different types of embodiments. It is therefore not required for the recesses to assume a curved profile in their interior. Also, for example, the projections 21 may differ in configuration. 

1. A louver roller with louver members and for mounting in an air nozzle body, wherein snap-in segments (12, 13) are arranged between end sides (10, 11) of the louver roller (100) and each have, on the louver-member side, a recess (14) into which the louver members can be snapped in a frictional and/or form-fitting manner.
 2. The louver roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the snap-in segments (12, 13) have an arm part (15).
 3. The louver roller as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arm part (15) is of elastic design.
 4. The louver roller as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arm part (15) is provided with a bulge (16) within the recess (14).
 5. The louver roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein a curvature (17) is formed within the recess (14), with the recess (14) being of curved design between the bulge (16) and curvature (17).
 6. The louver roller as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arms of the arm part (15) extend in the direction of the end side (11) which is provided with an adjusting wheel (18) for pivoting the louver roller (100).
 7. The louver roller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the snap-in segment (13) situated closest to the end side (11) is arranged diametrically to the remaining snap-in segments (12).
 8. The louver roller as claimed in claim I, wherein, between the end sides (10, 11), the snap-in segments (12) are arranged on both sides of the louver roller (100).
 9. The louver roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein projections (21) are arranged between the snap-in segments (12).
 10. The louver roller as claimed in claim 9, wherein that side (22) of the projection (21) which faces the recess (14) is of oblique design.
 11. The louver roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the louver members and the snap-in segments (12) are all designed as identical plastic molded parts.
 12. The louver roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the louver members and the snap-in segments (12) are made from a flexible plastic.
 13. An air nozzle, in particular for ventilating vehicles, which comprises the use of a louver roller as defined in claims 1 to
 12. 